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    Hot Cross Blondies

    20/03/2020 by thebakingexplorer 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Hot Cross Blondies

    Blondies are the white chocolate sisters of brownies and they are just as fudgey and divine. These Hot Cross Blondies are of course inspired by the Easter favourite hot cross buns. I've added mixed spice, dried fruit and some extra white chocolate chips for good measure! As much as I love all the chocolate and Mini Eggs at Easter, I do like a more simple recipe too and one that leans towards the more traditional Easter flavours. Of course blondies aren't a traditional Easter bake, but these Hot Cross Blondies are a tasty twist on classic Easter flavours. If you like hot cross buns, you will definitely love these blondies!

    Hot Cross Blondies

    Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

    • You can use either butter or a baking spread for the blondies.
    • Avoid using cooking or baking chocolate for the blondies, and also I don't recommend using Milky Bar or any white chocolate with low milk solids.
    • If you don't have light brown soft sugar, you can use regular caster sugar.
    • You can swap the mixed dried fruit for raisins or sultanas if you're not a mixed peel fan.
    • Mixed spice is a British spice blend usually containing cinnamon, coriander seed, nutmeg, clove, pimento and ginger. If you can't get hold of it, you can use a Pumpkin Spice mix instead. Or try 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ground ginger and ½ tsp ground nutmeg.
    • Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
    • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

    For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

    How to make Hot Cross Blondies

    Start by melting the butter and light brown soft sugar together in a pan on a low heat. Take the pan off the heat and add the white chocolate, then stir it until the chocolate melts.

    Transfer the mixture into a mixing bowl and whisk in the eggs. Next, whisk in the flour and mixed spice.

    Stir the white chocolate chips and mixed fruit into the batter, then pour it into a lined traybake tin. Bake for 30 minutes. When the blondies are full cool, remove them from the tin and cut them into squares. Make a simple icing using icing sugar and water, and pipe crosses onto the blondie slices.

    Hot Cross Blondies

    What is a blondie?

    Blondies are essentially the white chocolate version of brownies. They are fudgey traybake treats with white chocolate melted into the mixture for extra gooeyness. I've also added vanilla extract for extra yummy flavour.

    How do you know when the blondies are baked?

    I bake them in my oven on 160C Fan for 30 minutes until they are golden brown all over like in the photos. Using a skewer inserted in the centre doesn’t give a clear indication that they are done because blondies are meant to be gooey and almost a little under cooked. Blondies are the white chocolate version of brownies and they are not like cake. They will also set more as they cool down, wait until they are cool to remove them from the tin.

    What white chocolate should you use?

    I have made this recipe using both supermarket own brand white chocolate and Callebaut callets. If you use a better quality chocolate, it will improve the flavour. But of course supermarket own brands are great for keeping costs down. I would advise avoiding cooking or baking chocolate, and also I don’t recommend using Milky Bar.

    How long do the blondies last for and how should they be stored?

    They will last for 3 days and they are best stored in an airtight container in a cool place.

    Can the blondies be frozen?

    Yes, wrap them well in cling film or store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 3 months.

    Hot Cross Blondies

    Can these blondies be made gluten or dairy free?

    Making these blondies gluten free is easy! All you need to do is replace the plain flour with a gluten free plain flour blend. You may also like to add ¼ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. Unfortunately this recipe is not suitable for being made dairy free.

    What size tin do you need for this recipe?

    This recipe is for a 12" x 9" traybake tin, however if you have a 8" or 9" square tin, check the notes section of the recipe at the end of the page for how to convert this recipe for a smaller tin.

    Do you need an electric mixer to make the blondies?

    No, in fact I recommend making the blondies by hand with a whisk and spatula. It's so easy to do and you can mix it all together in one bowl.

    More tips for making the Hot Cross Blondies:

    • You can use any mix of dried fruit that you prefer. I used a mixture of sultanas, currants and mixed peel.
    • If you don't have a piping bag, you can drizzle the icing all over the blondies using a spoon, you won't get the cross effect, but it will still look pretty!
    Hot Cross Blondies

    Troubleshooting

    If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

    Recommended equipment & ingredients*

    • Traybake tin
    • Mixing bowls
    • Kitchen scales
    • Cooling rack
    • Piping bags
    • Mixed spice

    *I earn a small amount of money if you buy the products after clicking on the links. You will not be charged anything extra for this. Thank you for supporting The Baking Explorer!

    More Hot Cross recipes...

    • Hot Cross Buns
    • Hot Cross Muffins
    • Modern Simnel Cake
    • Easter Simnel Cupcakes
    Hot Cross Blondies

    Hot Cross Blondies

    Spiced white chocolate blondies with fruit and icing crosses
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Blondies
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Author: thebakingexplorer

    Ingredients

    For the blondies

    • 200 g Butter or baking spread
    • 300 g Light brown soft sugar
    • 150 g White chocolate broken into squares
    • 3 Eggs large
    • 225 g Plain flour
    • 2 tsp Mixed spice
    • 100 g Mixed dried fruit
    • 50 g White chocolate chips

    For the icing

    • 55 g Icing sugar
    • 1-2 tsp Water
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan/350F/Gas Mark 4, and grease and line a 12" x 9" traybake tin
    • Melt the butter with the light brown soft sugar in a pan on a low heat
    • Once the butter has melted, take the pan off the heat and add the white chocolate. Leave it for a couple of minutes to melt, then stir together. Leave the mixture to cool for 5 minutes
    • Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl. Add the eggs to the mixture, keep whisking as you pour them in
    • Add the flour and whisk it in, then stir in the mixed fruit and white chocolate chips
    • Pour the batter into the lined traybake tin
    • Bake for 30 minutes or until risen all over and golden on top
    • Leave them to cool completely in the tin before removing and slicing into pieces
    • Make an icing by mixing together the icing sugar and water. Add the water slowly as you may not need it all
    • Use a piping bag with the end snipped off to pipe crosses over the blondies
    • Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place and eat within 3 days
    Made this recipe?Share on Instagram with me @TheBakingExplorer or tag #thebakingexplorer!

    Notes

    • You can use either butter or a baking spread for the blondies.
    • Avoid using cooking or baking chocolate for the blondies, and also I don't recommend using Milky Bar or any white chocolate with low milk solids.
    • If you don't have light brown soft sugar, you can use regular caster sugar.
    • You can swap the mixed dried fruit for raisins or sultanas if you're not a mixed peel fan.
    • Mixed spice is a British spice blend usually containing cinnamon, coriander seed, nutmeg, clove, pimento and ginger. If you can't get hold of it, you can use a Pumpkin Spice mix instead. Or try 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ground ginger and ½ tsp ground nutmeg.
    • Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
    • For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.
     
    If you would like to use a 8" or 9" square tin instead, reduce the recipe by one third. So you will need:
    • 135g Butter
    • 200g Light brown sugar
    • 100g White chocolate
    • 2 Eggs
    • 150g Plain flour
    • 35g White chocolate chips
    • 1 ½ tsp Mixed spice
    • 65g Mixed dried fruit
    They will also need less time to bake, depending on your oven, I'd suggest 20-25 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 483IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg

    If you like this, check out more of my Blondie recipes!

    Or you might like more of my Easter recipes!

    « Easter Speckled Egg Drip Cake
    Mini Egg Dessert Pots »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chloe Edges

      March 20, 2020 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      What a genius mash up! Kat strikes again!

      Reply
    2. Rebecca Smith

      March 22, 2020 at 7:35 am

      5 stars
      Lovely idea for a simple Eaater Recipe. We haven't had many blondes in this house...time to change that I think ?

      Reply
    3. Cat | Curly's Cooking

      March 22, 2020 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      Great idea! These look delicious.

      Reply
    4. Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder

      March 23, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      5 stars
      I do love blondies and these sound just delicious. Perfect easy Easter bake!

      Reply
    5. Sisley White

      March 23, 2020 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      Your bakes are so happy! I have to try these. Blondies and hot cross buns. Absolutely delicious.

      Reply
    6. Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie

      March 24, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      5 stars
      Love this idea - total genius! Eb x

      Reply
    7. Irene

      April 17, 2020 at 5:10 pm

      What a lovely idea!

      Reply
    8. Heather

      March 28, 2021 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe!!! It was really easy to follow and they were so delicious! I will definitely be using Kat’s blondie recipes again.

      Reply

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